Tearful Farewell to Ajit Pawar Concludes with State Honours in Baramati

Maharashtra mourns deeply today, January 29, 2026, as Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's funeral unfolds with full state honors at Baramati's Vidya Pratishthan Ground, starting at 11 AM. The 66-year-old NCP leader, killed in yesterday's Learjet crash, draws lakhs of supporters chanting "Ajit Dada Zindabad" since dawn. His mortal remains, draped in the national tricolor, lie in public darshan, with the procession—originally planned through five key spots—curtailed for crowd safety and the body's condition in soaring heat.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attends for PM Narendra Modi (who praised Pawar's legacy in Parliament), uncle Sharad Pawar (despite their 2023 NCP split), wife Sunetra Pawar, sons Parth and Jay (succession hopefuls), cousin Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray, CM Devendra Fadnavis, and celebrities like Riteish Deshmukh attend. Three days of state mourning halt official events; flags fly half-mast as Baramati—Pawar's sugar belt fortress—shuts down in collective sorrow.

The January 28 tragedy struck at 8:46 AM: Pawar's VSR Ventures Learjet 45XR, flying from Mumbai for Zilla Parishad poll rallies, aborted Baramati's foggy tabletop runway once before fatally missing it amid pilot readback failure. Spatial disorientation sparked a cartwheel inferno, claiming six lives; his Gerald Genta Royal Oak watch uniquely identified charred remains. DGCA black box reveals trainee ATC lapses, overdue satellite retrofits, and final panicked pilot words.

Also Read: Ajit Pawar's Wristwatch Identifies Him After Baramati Plane Crash Tragedy

Pawar's void stalls marquee projects like Ladki Bahin stipend hike to Rs 2,100 for 2.5 crore women, Pune-Nashik high-speed rail, Baramati's Rs 5,000 crore airport, and irrigation grids fueling his "Baramati Model." NCP's poll campaign halts; BJP coalition reels as Sunetra eyes leadership, Parth assembly turf, amid symbol wars with Sharad's faction.

As sandalwood pyre flames rise post-66-gun salute, Ajit Dada's 6 AM punctuality—embodied by his cherished clock—leaves unfinished dreams and a volatile succession battle, reshaping Maharashtra politics forever.

Also Read: Ajit Pawar's Wife & family in Tears at Baramati After Plane Crash